Help from local kids benefits WHEAT in Clinton

The recession has taken its toll around the country and in Massachusetts. Since 2008 in the State, food insecurity has risen by 43 percent and the number of people experiencing homelessness continues to rise. And while the economy, overall, is recovering, organizations working to assist those in need say it’s been a struggle.

“We have to do more with less,” said Donna Jarvis, program manager of WHEAT Community Connections in Clinton, a direct service of the United Way of Tri-County. “Food costs more and in such a tough economy, the number of people in need continues to rise.”

WHEAT serves Bolton, Berlin, Clinton, Lancaster and Sterling by offering food, shelter referrals, and other types of assistance. Other food pantries around the area have also been affected. While solving problems associated with poverty are complex and the politics contentious, two groups of Bolton kids are among those taking direct action to help these organizations and put food on local tables.

Planting a row

At the Bolton Community Garden, the Girls Scouts of Troop 30495 have carefully planted lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, and a number of other vegetables and herbs. Throughout the summer, the harvest will be delivered directly from the garden to food pantries in Stow, Maynard, Acton-Boxborough and Ayer.

“We rarely receive fresh produce and people are always delighted and surprised to have it,” said Ann Lozeau, a volunteer at the Maynard Food Pantry.

The effort began when the troop decided to get involved with the Girl Scouts’ “Food Patch: I Can Help Program.”

“This program allows the girls to be productive members of the community by aiding less fortunate families while learning about gardening, health and budgeting of meals,” said Troop co-leader Tricia Pishock.

To achieve their goals, the troop partnered with volunteers at the First Parish Church of Acton and Stow, which runs a food pantry and began a Plant-a-Row garden project this year.

“We all know how important fresh vegetables are in our diets and these are hard to come by in the food pantries,” said Rick Lent, a Plant-a-Row coordinator.

To kick off the project, Lent and others have enlisted the support of several groups and about 20 volunteers.

“We can get people of any age and any level of gardening experience involved,” said Lent. “Some don’t have home gardens, but do have access to a community garden.”

Since the pantries don’t have refrigerated storage, the scouts, armed with a list of pantries and hours, pack their harvest on ice and deliver it immediately.

“This mission, which includes watering and taking care of the plants, has nurtured a sense of responsibility and personal pride in the girls,” said Pishock.

Making lemonade

When the second graders in Patrice Heffernan’s class at Florence Sawyer School brainstormed ways to help make a difference in the lives of others, they generated a list.

“They had many ideas, but ultimately narrowed them down and voted to help the homeless,” said Heffernan.

“They really believed having a home is a basic human right,” said Bolton resident Suzy Becker, who helped coordinate the class project. Becker is author of “Kids Make It Better,” an anthology of kids’ imagination-based solutions to world problems.

“The book inspires kids to work on these problems and there’s an action plan at the back that helps them develop a mission and their own step-by-step plan,” said Becker.

The first step: understanding the problem.

“People who are homeless have a hard time,” said 8-year-old Aurora Becker, who, with her classmates, discussed the impact of not having a place to live.

To take action, the kids set up a series of lemonade stands.

“I liked when people bought lemonade,” said 8-year-old Caeleigh Salmon. “Sometimes people just gave money for WHEAT."

The lemonade project raised more than $600. The kids also held a food drive and donated 496 pounds of food. Both donations went directly to helping those in need.

“We feed the homeless every evening by providing hot, nutritional meals six nights a week, free of charge, at our Community Café and distributing groceries four days a week through our Community Cupboard,” said Jarvis. “One way that we are trying to help prevent homelessness is by helping our clients obtain employment so they can become self-sufficient.”

To cap off the project, the class served dessert after a meal at the Community Café, where they were recognized by WHEAT for their efforts.

“It is gratifying to see young children take a stand and make a difference,” said Jarvis. “They are inquisitive about their surroundings and homelessness is right there in front of us, more prevalent than most realize. They are a role model; every class can be that second-grade class.”